Spring Break 2011

Spring break means we do a whole lot of this! For the first few days we just chill in the morning and it is wonderful. The boys get to play all day and see friends and cousins. We don't ever sleep late in our house, but not having to get dressed right away is a treat. We eat big breakfasts and play. This March break started with Ben's birthday and then lots of fun. We went to the library (usually just a Lukey/Henry/Mommy thing), had gymnastic camp, went swimming, for walks and bike rides and cooked with mom. Two weeks always flies by so fast and then we are all ready to get back to our routine. Just the right amount of time at the right time of the year.

We tried unsucessfully to cage the babies while we were cooking, but working together they shook the gate free in about ten minutes. I'm pretty sure Liv was the brains of the operations and H provided the brute strength!
Lukey built this awesome monster out of Trios! Lot of lego, lincoln log, and block building.
Ben started baseball this break also. I think he looks so handsome in his little uniform. He loves it and this makes the 1 1/2 hr practices 2x week and 1 1/2 hr games a little easier to stomach. Henry is not the easiest to manage around swinging bats and hurling balls right now!
Silly Lukey wearing the turtle necklace Papa and Grandma brought him from Hawaii. We got to watch a video of them in a helicopter. The boys thought it was great. I scored some perfume and the older two got shark tooth necklaces. It was a fun treat.
This little man was so happy to have his brother home to play with all day long. He loved showing them the things we do when they are at school.

Spring Break- Lifetime Playdate

Great friends + Water = Fun times for spring break!

My boys spent the day swimming and eating with all their girls. I love all these sweet kids that make it fun for us to hang out with our friends. Jeff and Megan are two of a kind!

I love how girls know how to pose and boys...well no clue.

Exhibit #2....love Ava's sweet face.

Between their great camera and never-ending supply of treats, the Anslemos always make it a party.

Funny faces with Ben and Emily
It was a great day and we are going to miss our buddies when they move away. Good thing they are buying a huge house so we can go visit. Fun way to end spring break.

Benjamin Turns the big 7

Birthday dinner was substituted with a lunch at the train park by Daddy's office.

I can't believe Benjamin is seven. We were sitting tonight looking at all the old posts on the blog and watching how fast everybody is growing up, Ben is changing so much right now. He has lost a ton of teeth in the last few weeks and has more wiggly ones. He continues to be the easiest little man to parent. He takes care of his brothers and obeys his mom and dad. He is an organizer and likes things to be in their places. At school he excels and is a great buddy to his friends. He loves to play the Wii and Cool Math Games on the computer. He loves to draw and build things out of boxes. I marvel as how mature he is becoming. He also loves anything to do with sports and would be content to sit with Brian on the couch staying up late watching basketball. He is a March Madness freak and is learning the hard lesson of how not to pick all the local teams so you make it a little further in the bracket. We are very proud of him and love him so much. Ben, it is a pleasure to be your mom.
He got to pick a sugar cereal for breakfast and everyone enjoyed picking the marshmallows out of their lucky charms.
Birthday happy meals with cousins at the "grassy area". Ben's birthday fell on the first day of spring break, so it meant no school for the event. Lucky boy!

Ben's teacher giving him a birthday squeeze.

Ben requested shark cake pops to take into his classroom. They were a big hit with his buddies.
He shared a train cake with Sean from Grandma Jones.


Instead of a big party, Ben chose to have some of his buddies over for a movie night. All the kids got tickets and could "buy" popcorn, treats and root beer floats.
Ben told us this was the best party ever. I think they all felt big because they got to stay up late and play soccer in the backyard in the dark. He has the best little friends and if was a very relaxing night for me too!
Happy, Happy Birthday Baby Ben!

And then we had a Sammy!

After a few years of agonizing over the decision whether or not to get a dog, one weekend we aquired Sammy. He came very well trained, and with all the extras of a well-loved pet. We had some good friends that needed to move and didn't think it was best to take him with them. The boys are so happy to have a pet and I must admit it has not been that big of an adjustment. The boys have been so great at doing the "Sammy" chores and I haven't had to feed, clean up or get him water in the last month. He really is a great dog and I enjoy the companionship when Brian is at class or studying. He follows me around when I lock the doors and check the boys, and when Henry is crying he comes and stands beside me. We couldn't have asked for a better pet and he fits right in.
Sammy loves to go for walks and run free at the grassy area. He occasionally walks the boys and they are still learning how to make him obey. Henry LOVES him and I think he is as excited to see Sammy in the morning as he is to see me. He gets right down next to him and waits for Sammy to lick his face. Henry then says "Dog" and proceeds to lay on, pull on, and just generally torment him all day long. Sammy tolerates it all and goes back for more. It is fun to watch Henry growing up with a pet. I have to say, even the non-pet person in me is enjoying having a dog. Thanks to the Anselmos and Ainsworths for all their hard work that we get to benefit from. And although you won't see him in any of our family portraits, we are proud dog owners.

Good-Bye Lovely Locks

After weeks of washing food out of his long, straggly hair...I cut it. Henry got his first haircut and was a champ.
So this little boy with his mullet turned into....
this sweet little man!
No more crazy bed head that we can put pigtails in!

MLK Jr. Day Hiking

We love getting the crew together and going for a hike. Most days Brian has off work for a holiday and it isn't 100+ outside we try and find a reason to spend the day outside.








We ended the hike with a great picnic and loaded up for naps and quiet time at home. A great way to take some time off from all the studying and work Brian has been doing lately.

New Years Party

I think I say it every other post, but we have the BEST friends. I love each of these families and love the example the women are to me, the support Brian has in his buddies and the sweet friends my kids have. For New Years this year we slept over at the Anselmos with the Tait family. We are grateful for new baby Dalin to even out the gender scale a bit! The kids rang in the new year, New York style and I think they fell asleep about 10:30pm. Late night for the Jones boys.
Matt, Dave and Brian. We hired some brave girls and hit PF Changs for a relaxing dinner.
I love these women. I look up to them both in so many ways. I think we are all glad our hubby's are such great friends. I totally scored in the husband's friend's wives department!
It was the perfect mix of family and couple fun. A great way to ring in 2011.

Fun times, we hope the Anselmos will be back for next year.